Keasling paper 504
Transcript of Keasling paper 504
-
8/7/2019 Keasling paper 504
1/8
Sean Keasling
Multiple Intelligences
EdTech 504 (Spring 09)
Multiple Intelligences
Introduction
In 1983 Howard Gardner proposed the theory of multiple intelligences. He originally
proposed that there are seven forms of intelligences and in the mid 1990s proposed an eighth
intelligence. The eight intelligences that Gardner proposed are: verbal-linguistic, musical-
rhythmic, logical-mathematical, visual-spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, intrapersonal, interpersonal,
and naturalist intelligence (Bixler, 2003). Gardner proposes that each individual has all of the
intelligences but some people will improve more readily in one intelligence area than in others
(Hampton, 2009).
After Gardners theory gained popularity. there were some schools that were created to
focus and center their instruction methods on the multiple intelligences theory. One school,
Enota Multiple Intelligences Academy, has their students working on various activities in
addition to being in the classroom setting. Students at the Enota Multiple Intelligences
Academy may participate in activities such as Smartville Savings and Learn, Smartville Culinary
Arts, and Smartville Post Office. These activities help the students to explore and express the
multiple ways of being smart (Bernard, 2009).
-
8/7/2019 Keasling paper 504
2/8
Consequently, in this paper I will discuss the results of the multiple intelligence test that I
took, comment on my personal results and interpret how closely the results match my learning
style.
The Eight Multiple Intelligences
The eight intelligences that make up Howard Gardners multiple intelligences theory are as
follows (information pulled from Bixler, 2003):
Intelligence Definition How they learn Professions
Verbal Linguistic Have highly developed
auditory skills, enjoy
reading and writing,
like to play word
games, like to tell
stories, like to get their
point across, and has a
good memory for
names, dates, and
places.
Learn best by
saying and hearing
words.
Poets, writers, and
teachers
Musical Rhythmic Sensitive to the sounds
of their environment,
including the
inflections of the
human voice. Enjoy
music and may listen to
music when they study
or read. Skilled at pitch
and rhythm.
Learning through
melody and music.
Singers, conductors,
composers, and
instrumental
performers.
Logical Mathematic Like to explore patterns
and relationships, like
to experiment with
things they do not
understand, ask
questions, and enjoy
well ordered tasks.
Learn best by
classifying
information, using
abstract thought,
and looking for
common basic
principles and
Scientists
-
8/7/2019 Keasling paper 504
3/8
Enjoy working with
numbers and solving
problems with logical
reasoning.
patterns.
Visual Spatial Work well with maps,charts, diagrams and
visual arts in general.
Able to visualize clear
mental images. Like to
design and create
things.
Learn best bylooking at pictures
and watching
videos.
Sculptors, painters,architects, surgeons, and
engineers.
Bodily Kinesthetic Use bodily sensations
to gather information.
Have good balance andcoordination and are
good with their hands.
Learning activities
that provide
physical activitiesand hands on
learning work well.
Carpenters, mechanics,
dancers, gymnasts,
swimmers, and jugglers.
Intrapersonal Aware of their own
strengths, weaknesses,
and feelings. They are
also aware of self,
being a creative,
independent, and
reflective thinker.Usually possess
independence, self-
confidence,
determination, and high
motivation. May
respond with strong
opinions.
Learn best by
engaging in
independent study
projects rather than
working on group
projects. Pacing
their owninstruction is
important
Entrepreneurs,
philosophers, and
psychologists.
Interpersonal Enjoy being around
people, have manyfriends, and engage in
social activities. Can
develop genuine
empathy for others.
Learn best by
relating, sharing,and participating in
group
environments.
Salespeople,
consultants, communityorganizers, counselors,
and teachers.
Naturalist In touch with nature.
Sense patterns and are
Learn best by
studying natural
Fields directly
-
8/7/2019 Keasling paper 504
4/8
good at categorization.
Good planners and
organizers of living
areas.
phenomenon in
natural settings, and
learning how things
work.
connected with nature.
The Key Learning Community
Key Learning Community opened an elementary school in 1987, a middle school in
1993, a high school in 1999, then all moved into one building in the year 2000 (Armstrong,
2002). The Key Learning Community school basis their instruction on Howard Gardners theory
of multiple intelligences. Each student is required to take elective classes called pods. These
pods are a means to give teachers and students an opportunity to do something they really love
and are passionate about (Armstrong, 2002). In addition, each student is required to study art,
play an instrument, create music compositions, and visit the flow room where they immerse
themselves into an area of interest (Armstrong, 2002). At the beginning of each school year the
instructors get together and pick a theme for the upcoming school year. This theme is used to
base most of the school years projects around.
Students in the Key Learning Community do not receive grades. Instead they receive
progress reports that are based on three dimensions, progress, participation, performance, in
addition to self assessment. The progress report is as follows (Armstrong, 2002):
Progress = N (needs help), S (steady progress), R (rapid progress)
Participation = triangle (intrinsically motivated), square (extrinsically motivated), X
(disruptive), circle (passive)
Rankings for subject matter = novice, apprentice, journeyman
In the Key Learning Community students are motivated and find the school work fun.
Furthermore, the teaching staff is very enthusiastic about the program as well.
-
8/7/2019 Keasling paper 504
5/8
Enota Multiple Intelligences Academy
Another school that is centers its instruction around the multiple intelligences theory is
the Enota Multiple Intelligences Academy in Gainesville, Georgia. At this school students take
regular classes and rotate through a six week period through one of six activities: music, art,
creative movement, culinary institute, physical education, and technology (Bernard, 2009). In
addition, students also participate in a Smartville, which is like a functioning village. In
Smartville, students participate in various activities like sorting and delivering mail for the post
office, work at Smartville Savings and Learn, or run the Little Elephant depot (Bernard, 2009).
By participating in Smartville students exercise their multiple intelligences on multiple levels,
always in a meaningful way (Bernard, 2009).
Personal Reflection
After taking the multiple intelligences test I found out that my strengths are in the
intelligence areas of musical rhythmic, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, and can use verbal
intelligence with some ease. This falls in line with what I would have figured my intelligences
would be.
Musical rhythmic is the intelligence that I am the strongest in. Someone who is strong in
the area of musical rhythmic intelligence is sensitive to the sounds in their environment. My
wife sometimes thinks that I am a little off my rocker because we will be watching television and
I will hear a certain series of tones and it will remind me of a song that I have heard. Hearing
that set of tones encourages me to starting singing or whistling the song that those tones
reminded me of. Even in the middle of summer my wife may hear me whistling a Christmas
song just because I heard a rhythm or series of tones that reminded me of that song. Likewise,
just hearing a rhythm will encourage me to add more rhythms to what I hear. For example,
-
8/7/2019 Keasling paper 504
6/8
someone may be sitting in a rocking chair and the rocking noise will make a nice even tempo.
After hearing the rhythm of the rocking chair I may start tapping my fingers on the off beats to
create a song with my tapping and the sound of the rocking chair.
Interpersonal intelligence was another area according to my intelligence test that I excel
in. The main reason that I am strong in this intelligence is because of my first job, which was a
security guard at the Hutchinson Mall. When I got hired the main thing that my boss told me to
do was walk around, talk to the people that work at the stores, help customers, and be seen.
Essentially, he was telling me that this job was indeed a public relations position. Working as a
security guard helped me to learn how to interact and communicate with people of all ages,
professions, and ethnic background. Gaining this public relations experience has helped me to
interact and understand other people that I am with in contact with in public situations. From
time to time my wife will see me strike up conversations with total strangers and have
conversations like we have known each other forever.
Intrapersonal intelligence is the final intelligence area that according to my intelligence
test that I excel in. According to the definition of intrapersonal intelligence a person who is
strong in the area of intrapersonal intelligence has an understanding of one's interests and goals.
One example in my past that I can draw upon is that since my freshman year in high school, I
have always known that I was going to become a band instructor. This was always a goal of
mine and I worked hard to achieve my music education degree. In addition, I am a very
confident person and have a strong sense of who I am, what my goals are, what make me happy,
and what my morals are.
Teaching to Multiple Intelligences
-
8/7/2019 Keasling paper 504
7/8
In my classroom I try to do various activities in order to reach as many multiple intelligences
as possible during my instruction. Some of the activities that I have had the students do are:
Practice by themselves in one of our practice rooms.
Practice with a small group of other band students.
Incorporate various music related websites to help with the learning of certain concepts,
(rhythm, music history, scales, etc.) In order to check for understanding of a concept I
may have the student explain the concept to either myself of the entire class.
Demonstrate a concept by modeling
Either playing a passage on the piano or on my primary instrument, the saxophone
Write down rhythms on the chalk board and have the students count them out loud.
Start or end my class with various activities.
Logic Puzzles
Read a current event from the MSNBC website
Complete mazes
Listen to music recordings of famous musicians and music groups
Watch music performances on video of famous musicians and music groups
Sit wherever you want day
Students are able to sit by their friends in the band and can sit anywhere in the room
for rehearsal
Put music examples on the overhead projector so they can visualize what I am talking
about a certain concept.
All of these activities help me to reach many of the different multiple intelligences. One
activity that I have created for my high school students, is my Name That Tune/Jeopardy game.
-
8/7/2019 Keasling paper 504
8/8
The kids really enjoy this activity and are really enthused to participate. In this Name That
Tune/Jeopardy, I use a website that I can enter text into a Jeopardy template to create my own
Jeopardy game. For the name that tune part of the activity I have music that I have pulled from
my own music collection or downloaded off of iTunes. I have categories of different music in
the Jeopardy game and will ask the students to name that tune, name the performing artist, or
name that instrument that they hear. I will then play a recording for them and they will ring in
with a buzzer system to answer the question. My high school students just love this activity and
look forward to playing it when I create a new game for them each semester. The multiple
intelligences that I am teaching to in this activity are musical rhythmic, linguistic, and visual
spatial.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Gardners multiple intelligences theory helps to classify different
intelligences for each person and to help to figure out how each person learns. There have been
different schools which have been created in order to center their instruction on the multiple
intelligences theory. At these schools students take on different project created around the
different intelligences to help them learn better. Students at the Enota Multiple Intelligences
Academy will participate in a mock city called Smartville, in which they will participate in the
Smartville Savings and Learn, Smartville Post Office, and the Little Elephant Depot. These
activities help students exercise their multiple intelligences on multiple levels, always in a
meaningful way (Bernard, 2009). Finally, I found out after taking a multiple intelligence test
that the areas that I excel in are musical rhythmic, intrapersonal, interpersonal, and even can take
or leave verbal linguistic intelligence. These intelligences are very close to my personality and
they are the areas in which I thought I would be proficient in.